Americas

Big Gains for Republicans while Voters Support Progressive Ballot
Measures

The significant gains made by Republicans in the mid-term elections, in
particular taking control of the U.S. Senate, have caused alarm for
working-class and progressive people across the country. The Republicans
also solidified their control of the House of Representatives. Most
shocking, however, was the re-election of a number of right-wing
governors like Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Rick Snyder in Michigan who
had presided over relentless attacks on the working class.

But Republican gains cannot obscure the fact that the whole political
establishment is discredited. This election showed frustration and
disappointment with the Democrats – not support for Republicans. Before
the election, one poll showed 70% supporting the idea of throwing out
all incumbents. The gap between the frustration of working-class people
and what´s on offer from reactionary Republicans and pro-corporate
Democrats will inevitably force working people to find other ways to
express their needs. We can expect struggles on a range of fronts.

Contradictory Results

The election result stands in sharp contrast to the shift to the left in
U.S. society in recent years reflected in broad support for increasing
the minimum wage, for marriage equality, addressing climate change and
against military adventures abroad. In fact, ballot initiatives to
increase the minimum wage passed in Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska and South
Dakota, the latter two reliably “red” states. In San Francisco voters
passed a referendum for a $15 minimum wage by an overwhelming 77%
margin. In Oregon, Alaska and Washington DC, voters approved measures to
legalize possession of marijuana. Two of the three anti-abortion
measures proposed at the state level failed. So voters in many cases
supported positions rejected by the right wing while not voting for
Democrats.

Huge parts of the electorate sat this one out. Broadly the voters were
older, whiter and more conservative than in 2008 and 2012. In contrast
to the low voter turnout, these were the most expensive mid-term
elections in history with $4 billion being spent. Unleashed by the
Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, corporations and reactionary
billionaires tried – to some extent successfully – to buy the vote. This
is a serious obstacle for any candidate rejecting the corporate agenda.
In addition, gerrymandering has helped the Republicans, particularly in
House races. There has also been widespread voter suppression by
Republicans in some states aimed at reducing the African American vote.

What Happens Now?

The Republican leadership, particularly Mitch McConnell, the new Senate
Majority Leader, are very keen to demonstrate that they have learned
from the government shutdown in 2013 – which they triggered – and that
they will keep the Tea Party “in its place.” Since the Democrats’
election meltdown, Obama and McConnell have been making conciliatory
“non-partisan” noises. This is not good news for working people. When
the politicians in Washington talk about the need to “get things done”
and “end the gridlock,” they are partly reflecting the popular anger at
the government’s dysfunction – but also expressing the ruling class’s
frustration that their agenda is not being addressed.

However, it is not only possible, but probable, that provocations by the
right wing will lead to new sharp struggles – as happened after the 2010
elections where the Republicans made major gains and then thought they
had a mandate to run amok. 2010 was followed by the uprising in
Wisconsin and Occupy in 2011. Similar developments are possible now.

The Democratic Party is the issue

The real issue is how the Democrats, after six years of the Obama
presidency, have so disillusioned progressive workers and young people
that large numbers of them stayed home even in the face of the threat
from the right.Screen-Shot-2014-09-29-at-11.29.04-AM

The Democrats say they should be receiving more credit for economic
growth. But the bulk of jobs being created are low wage, and the
benefits of the “recovery” have gone overwhelmingly to the richest 1%.
Millions of homeowners are still underwater. Latinos who turned towards
the Democrats during the Bush years are incensed that Obama has sharply
increased deportations. Young black people see no end to harassment from
the police. Women’s rights have been under systematic attack, especially
in the South.

Despite rhetoric about climate change, Obama has approved the massive
expansion of oil and natural gas production in the U.S. This
administration has also expanded surveillance and continued endless war
in the Middle East. Add to this the role of many Democrats, especially
at the state level, in supporting vicious austerity — attacks on public
education and social services — and it’s no wonder that disillusionment
is so strong.

The problem is the lack of a credible left alternative on a national
level which can mobilize to defend the rights of working people, women,
people of color and the poor. Unfortunately, conservative leaders of
most unions, women’s, civil rights and environmental organizations
covered up for the failures of the Democrats and continued to present
them as the only barrier against the Republicans.

This did not mobilize, but demoralized people, and they stayed at home –
despite widespread disgust about the Republican agenda amongst many
working people. If the money, effort, and political power of labor was
not wasted to promote Democrats, but used to help candidates who reject
corporate money and run left independent campaigns, what huge steps
forward towards a real fight-back for workers´ rights would be possible!

Building a New Political Force for the 99%

jess-coverWhere there were credible left candidates in these elections,
they often did very well. In the Washington State House race, Socialist
Alternative candidate Jess Spear received 17% of the vote against Frank
Chopp, one of the state’s most powerful corporate politicians. Spear ran
on a program to make Seattle affordable for ordinary people by ending
corporate bailouts, taxing the rich, and rent control. The campaign
demonstrated again the roots that Socialist Alternative is developing in
Seattle, where SA city councilmember Kshama Sawant won a citywide race a
year ago, and then led the first successful fight for $15 in a major
city.

In New York State, Howie Hawkins, a UPS worker standing on the Green
Party ticket, calling for a $15 minimum wage, a ban on fracking, and a
“Green New Deal” received 175,000 votes, or 5% of the total. This is the
highest vote for a genuine left wing candidate in New York since 1920.
It reflects in large part the anger of the base of the Democratic Party
at Andrew Cuomo who has ruled the state for four years in the interests
of Wall Street.

In Milwaukee, an African American socialist, Angela Walker, received 21%
(61,000 votes), running for county Sheriff. For a campaign with very few
resources, this is a very impressive result. Walker explicitly opposed
mass incarceration and police brutality and called for an end to the
austerity agenda. Meanwhile in Richmond, California, all the candidates
of the independent Progressive Alliance won their races for City Council.

All of these results show what is possible when there is a real
alternative representing the 99%. The interest in a potential run of
Senator Bernie Sanders as an independent in the 2016 presidential
elections could be used to discuss a broader strategy on the left to
build towards such a new mass alternative. As a recent letter signed by
Kshama Sawant and Howie Hawkins stated, “Large, well-attended events in
different parts of the country, connecting social movements and
independent left politics, could lay the foundation for the
strongest-ever left political challenge to the establishment in decades.”

However, as many working people may see no way to change politics
through elections for the moment, they may be more focused on what can
be done through struggle. Socialist Alternative will be there to help to
build these movements, to fight tooth and nails for workers´ rights,
living wages, to defend women´s rights and fight racism. These battles
will help lay the basis for a new mass party of the 99%, armed with a
socialist program. Join us in the struggle – join Socialist Alternative
today!